The struggle to keep a hero's private life from being revealed is a tireless one, but as the Flash, Wally West's relationship with the public was so exhausting, DC Comics decided to just drop his secret identity between issues. During his introduction as the Flash, Wally West made it quite clear that his identity was a secret. And yet, his identity was quickly treated so inconsistently that DC outed him just to resolve the resulting confusion.
Wally West was created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino and initially appeared in The Flash #110. After spending years by Barry Allen's side as Kid Flash, Wally was forced to step up and fill his uncle's yellow boots after Barry's death in Crisis on Infinite Earths. West carried the weight of his uncle's legacy but served the role well on his own for over 20 years. However, there were some bumps along the way that would eventually have to be straightened out.
When Wally first appears as the Flash in 1986's Legends #1 by Len Wein, John Ostrander, John Byrne and Karl Kesel, it's established from his debut that he is not known as the Flash publicly. While some suspect that Barry's former sidekick has taken his mentor's mantle, no one can definitively point to Wally West being the man behind the mask. But when Wally got his own comic, readers were met with a rapid back-and-forth stance on his identity. Wally West isn't recognized on the street, yet a doctor knows to call him directly to help deliver a heart quickly. He introduces himself by name while wearing the costume, yet freaks out when his mask may have been removed while unconscious. The confusing nature of Wally's identity was settled from The Flash #5 on, with stories confirming that his identity was publicly known and depicting the unique struggles this caused. However, the whole thing was such a mess, DC rushed straight to the new status quo and didn't actually reveal how Wally became known to the public. This missing piece of the narrative was only addressed several years later.
1995's Flash Annual #8 - by Tom Peyer, Mark Waid, David Brewer, Mark Stegbauer, Humberto Ramos, Ken Branch, and Wayne Faucher - featured an altercation between Flash and Doctor Alchemy set early in Wally's Flash career. The fight ends with Alchemy stripping the Flash of his suit out in the open, revealing a scantily-clad Wally West to the giggling public. After an assist from Green Lantern, it's confirmed the news picked up on the scuffle and West's exposure, leading to the entire world definitively knowing the new Flash's identity.
It's long been difficult for writers to keep a hero's anonymity believable, which is probably why so many superheroes have gotten rid of secret identities altogether. However, Flash had a rougher ride than most, as his confusing identity led first to an off-panel resolution and then a humiliating early setback once writers revisited the gap in continuity. While Wally's early days may have been difficult in that regard, DC Comics' decision to get rid of his secret identity was for the best, as it allowed West to have a unique set of challenges in his adventures as the Flash, and to claim the mantle for his own after the death of Barry Allen.
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